chinese national essay contest

The Harvard-Westlake Chronicle

Seven students won awards for National Chinese Essay Contest

Nathan Wang February 25, 2023

Seven students won awards for their essay submissions to the 2022 National Chinese Essay Contest, sponsored by the Chinese Language Association of Secondary Elementary Schools (CLASS) at the end of January.

Students enrolled in Chinese language classes were eligible to participate in three different categories based on their language background. Categories included Regular, Immersion and Heritage. Each category included a beginner, intermediate and advanced division. All participants were required to select one of two essay prompts to handwrite in Chinese and submit online.

Sarah Parmet ’25, who received the Gold Award in the Immersion advanced category, said she put a lot of effort into her essay and winning Gold was a rewarding experience.

“It made my day,” Parmet said. “I worked hard on the essay, I researched my topic, thentyped it up. The essay was handwritten, and as you can imagine, that takes a while. I remember staying up until 1 a.m. writing it. I knew winning gold would be difficult, being one of the youngest in my age category, but it’s great to see your hard work yield good results.”

Nilufer Mistry-Sheasby ’24, who was rewarded an honorable mention in the regular advanced category, chose to write about China’s anti-poverty campaign.

“The most important thing I learned was how two-dimensional a nation can be,” Minstry-Sheasby said. “In total, China has lifted 800 million people out of poverty over 40 years. That’s fantastic, but at the same time, the nation obviously suffers from worker abuse and corruption issues. It’s really interesting to explore that nuance and how a country can be capable of both really great and really horrible things, so how can we learn from each other what best practices are.”

Chinese teacher Bin He said he is proud that his students enrolled in the competition despite their busy workloads.

“I feel very proud of them because everything comes from themselves,” He said. “Basically, what [teachers] do is just to remind them to submit everything on time. All the students just spend their extra time, often based on their busy schedule, [to] try to just run the extra mile and practice their writing comprehension. So, I feel so glad they got these kinds of rewards for their hard work.”

Sunny Lu ’25 won an honorable mention in the heritage intermediate category. Maya Leibzon ’25 won a participation award in the regular intermediate category. Clarissa Brown ’24 won a silver award in the regular advanced category. Ava Seib ’24 won an honorable mention in the regular advanced category. Peijin Wu ’24 won a gold award in the heritage advanced category.

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Chinese V Students Win Gold Awards in the 2023 National Chinese Essay Contest

• Students must be currently enrolled in a Mandarin Chinese program at a school  accredited by regional accreditation institution the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), or a school that’s a member of the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS).
• The contestant’s teacher must be a current member of the Chinese Language Association of Secondary-Elementary Schools (CLASS).
• Essays must be written on provided paper and handwritten legibly, using a minimum of 500 characters.
• All entries must be the student’s original independent work.
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China Focus 2024 Annual Essay Contest

China Focus is thrilled to announce the 2024 China Focus Essay Contest. This year’s contest is organized by China Focus and is jointly hosted by the Fudan-UC Center on Contemporary China , the 1990 Institute , The Carter Center , and the 21st Century China Center . 

We will accept both Chinese and English submissions. The contest offers two topics and awards two prizes of $1,000 and four runner-up prizes of $500.

Award winners will grant China Focus and co-sponsors the right to publish their essays on their respective platforms or in their publications. Winners may then be contacted with additional award opportunities to transform their essays into teaching materials and also to discuss their work with a panel of experts during the summer.

2024 ESSAY TOPICS (CHOOSE ONLY ONE) :

Topic 1: China has positioned itself as a potential mediator in conflicts like the Russo-Ukrainian War and the conflicts in the Middle-East. How would you define China’s track record in its mediation? Evaluate Chinese success so far and the geopolitical implications and potential obstacles surrounding China’s newfound role as an international mediator.

Topic 2: The U.S. and China have had an ongoing exchange of students and migrants for years as a product of increasingly globalized education and labor markets. How does the flow of U.S.-Chinese populations influence U.S.-China relations? To what extent can these population flows and ensuing people-to-people ties help to stabilize the relationship?

CONTEST REQUIREMENTS

The contest is open to undergraduate, graduate students, and recent graduates. Each entry must be the original work of students enrolled during the 2023-24 academic year as well as students who graduated after May 2023. We especially welcome submissions by students from U.S. and Chinese universities. Collaborative projects are encouraged, but prize money must be split among collaborators. Entries can be in either English or Chinese.

Essays should be written in op-ed style, with references provided as appropriate but no need for detailed footnotes, with a length of up to 2,500 words in English and 3,000 in Chinese.

Each entry will be reviewed by a panel of judges drawn from the China Focus board of advisers, experts in U.S.-China relations from the 21st Century China Center, and others with relevant expertise.

CONTEST PRIZES

Two equal $1,000 prizes for contest winners, the 1990 Institute Prize and the Jimmy Carter Prize, will be awarded. Four runner-up essays will also be selected to win $500 each.

Winners will be selected on quality without regard to the question addressed in the essay. Essay winners may then be contacted with additional award opportunities entailing transforming their essays into teaching materials and/or discussing their essay themes with experts on a panel event during the summer.

CONTEST DEADLINE (EXTENDED)

May 1st, 2024, 11:59 PM PST

Contestants who have already submitted are free to send in any revisions before the new extended deadline.

PREVIOUS CONTEST WINNERS

https://chinafocus.ucsd.edu/category/essay-contest/

HOW TO ENTER

• Send your submission to us by email ( [email protected] ) with the subject heading: “CF Contest2024-LastName”
• Send from your official university email address.
• Send your essay attached as a PDF.
• Submission title
• Author name(s)
• Affiliated school
• Degree just completed or being pursued in the current school year
• Nationality
• 3-4 sentences bio
• An alternative (permanent) email address (different from the school email address)
• Where did you hear about the essay contest?

For more information, email [email protected] and follow our LinkedIn page.

2024″中国焦点”作文大赛

2024“中国焦点”年度征文比赛正式开启。本届征文比赛由“中国焦点”（China Focus）倡议和组织， 复旦-加大当代中国研究中心 、 1990学社 （The 1990 Institute）、 卡特中心 （The Carter Center）和 加州大学圣地亚哥分校21世纪中国研究中心 (21st Century China Center)共同协办。本届比赛共有两个主题，邀请就读于中、美两国的本科生、研究生 (包括毕业不到一年的学生) 任选其中一个主题，针对中美两国正共同面对的一些挑战表述自己的观点和看法。

比赛共将选出六篇优胜论文，两个冠名一等奖，奖金额1,000美金；和四个二等奖，奖金额500美金。有奖征文评委会将同时接受收中文及英文稿件。大赛组织方将在各自平台或出版物上发表获奖论文。届时，获奖者也将有机会获得额外奖励，与大赛组织方专家合作，将获奖文章改编成教学材料，并在暑假期间应邀参与远程讨论，与相关专家面对面讨论获奖论文。

征文比赛题目（二选一）

题目一： 中国在俄乌和中东地区局势中将自己定位为潜在的调停者。中国作为调停者迄今为止的表现如何?该如何评价中国为俄乌和中东地区局势带来的积极影响？中国的调停者角色是否会对地区局势产生影响？作为新晋的调停者，中国将会面临哪些障碍和考验?

题目二： 多年来，教育市场和劳动力市场的日益全球化促进了中美的学生交流和移民往来。中美之间的人口流动是如何影响中美双边关系? 在多大程度上，中美双边的人口流动和民间交流能够促进两国关系的稳定发展?

征文比赛资格和其他要求：

参赛者须于2023至2024学年度在中国或美国大学注册或有学籍（包括自2023年5月毕业不足一年的应届生）的学生。比赛对本科生、研究生以及博士生开放。如果征文稿由多位作者共同撰写，则奖金须平分。

稿件必须为参赛者原创，中、英文皆可。征文长度不超过英文2,500字、中文3,000字。文体属非学术论文，但必须有理有据，可以参照长篇时事评论、专栏形式或往届获奖征文。酌情提供参考文献，但无需详细脚注。

有奖征文评委会由“中国焦点”顾问团队，包括21世纪中国研究中心教授以及其他中美关系专家担任。

2024年5月1日，23：59（美西时间）

两个冠名一等奖，奖金额1,000美金。

四个二等奖，奖金额500美金。

• 在截止期限之前，将稿件存为PDF格式，寄至 [email protected] ，标题为“CF Contest2024-LastName”
• 征文必须由学校官方电子邮箱寄出
• 个人简历 (3-4句话即可）
• 永久个人电子邮箱（非学校官方邮箱）
• 你从哪个渠道听说此次征文比赛

如果您还有其他问题，请咨询 [email protected] 或关注 中国焦点 官方领英。

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Announcing the Winners: 2023 China Focus Essay Contest

The 2023 China Focus Essay Contest is organized by China Focus and is jointly hosted by the Carter Center, the Fudan-UC Center on Contemporary China, the 1990 Institute, and the 21st Century China Center. The contest is open to undergraduate and graduate students and offers two topics:

Topic 1: How has China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) affected the countries involved? Pick a country that China has included in the BRI. Assess the record of China’s relationship with the country. Discuss who benefits from what in this relationship and whether BRI projects are politically, economically, and environmentally sustainable in the country. What are the geopolitical implications of this case?

Topic 2: China and the U.S. share an interest in carbon reduction. Yet both China and the U.S. are now following policies that discriminate against the other’s “green industries.” Are there changes in domestic renewable energy policies which can contribute positively to U.S.-China cooperation and which will result in global carbon reduction?

The Contest received a record number of high-quality submissions from many talented students this year. After careful evaluation by judges drawn from all the organizing institutions, the 1990 Institute Prize was awarded to Katerina Yang and Ann-Alice Tichá and the Jimmy Carter Prize was awarded to Graham Wilmot Revare.  The two runners-up are Jessie Yin  and Michelle Lai .  The 1990 Institute and the Jimmy Carter prize winners will receive an award of $2000 each, and two runners-up will get $1,000 each. Each winning essay demonstrated profound perspectives, insightful examination, and a thorough grasp of the dynamics between the U.S. and China. Congratulations to the winners!

Scroll down to find out more about these exceptional pieces, and click on the titles to read the full essay!

Green Protectionism: A Dangerous Consensus —2023 China Focus Essay The Jimmy Carter First Prize Winner Author: Graham Revare ( the University of Kansas)

This winning essay written by Graham Revare dives into the impact of the growing hostility between the United States and China on the renewable energy markets. While the Biden administration has expressed climate ambitions, it has quietly maintained protectionist policies such as solar safeguard tariffs and import quotas initiated by its predecessor. There is also a bipartisan push in Congress to reimpose tariffs on Southeast Asian countries, aiming to counter Chinese influence in global decarbonization. This so-called “Green Protectionism” approach, however, is detrimental, as explained by Revare. Tariffs on Chinese renewable imports increase clean energy costs, invite retaliation, and impede the transition away from fossil fuels. Instead of attempting to localize the entire renewable supply chain, a more effective strategy termed “comparative advantage plus” is proposed, focusing on subsidizing areas where the U.S. excels, such as research and development. Revare concludes that this approach is more likely to accelerate global decarbonization while moderating the tense relationship with China resulting from the hard-nosed competition of protectionism.

Politics Out the Way! Towards a Deeper U.S.-China Green Cooperation —2023 China Focus Essay 1990 Institute First Prize Winner Authors: Katerina Yang and Ann-Alice Tichá  (Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies)

Katerina Yang and Ann-Alice Tichá’s winning essay explores the tumultuous relationship between China and the U.S. in the context of climate cooperation. Their analysis covers four focus areas for deepening bilateral cooperation: research and development (R&D), climate finance, bilateral trade, and local-level exchanges. Domestically, both China and the U.S. are taking steps to combat climate change and prioritize environmental action. The authors suggest this creates hope for bilateral climate cooperation in the four key areas. However, because of the tension between the U.S. and China, multilateral climate efforts across the globe must remain a top priority, in both the public and private sectors. A friendly “green energy race” might encourage both countries to compete in a productive manner, motivating the adoption of more climate-friendly energy policies and efforts to reduce carbon emissions. Climate change is the biggest issue in geopolitics, and while there are hurdles to overcome between the top two emitters, there is room for hope.

Untangling China’s Reconstruction of Angola — 2023 China Focus Essay Contest Runner-Up Author: Jessie Yin  (Paris School of International Affairs and Peking University)

Jessie Yin’s insightful essay offers an overview of the intricate relationship between China and Angola and analyzes how it evolved with the changing global dynamics and Angola’s domestic transformation. The partnership, which marked the exchange of Angola’s resources for Chinese infrastructure, was initially tightly bonded under mutual benefits: China received oil and geopolitical influence with its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), while President Eduardo dos Santos’ regime, bolstered by Chinese capital, sustained his power within the ruling MPLA party. However, this approach soon raised neocolonialism concerns and as President Lourenco took office in 2017, the focus shifted. In 2022, Angola did not receive any BRI funding. China’s decreased reliance on Angolan oil reflects broader strategic realignment, including support for Russia in Ukraine and mediation between Saudi Arabia and Iran. Amid the noticeable deterioration and diversification, Yin points out that China is still invested in Angola’s future, with the BRI expanding to include digital and health aspects, while Angola seeks tech and green energy investments. Navigating oil dependence, debt to China, and potential funds from the U.S.,  Angola’s prospects hinge on geopolitics and President Lourenco’s leadership.

China’s Best Friend in the EU: The Potential for Sino-Hungarian Cooperation —2023 China Focus Essay Contest Runner-Up Author: Michelle Lai ( UC San Diego’s School of Global Policy and Strategy)

Michelle Lai investigates Hungary’s political shift from depending on the U.S. and EU to fostering relationships with China, Russia, and Turkey, spearheaded by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. Hungary’s motivations are largely based on Orbán’s far-right agenda, its need for economic gains, and political leverage from its use of China. Lai explains the potential for large-scale economic cooperation is low due to slow progress on Belt and Road Initiative projects in Hungary, like the Budapest-Belgrade Railway. However, China recognizes the value of Hungary’s status as a member of the European Union, which might grant them increased access to the EU’s market. While Hungary’s political elite leans pro-authoritarian, Hungary’s public population views China less favorably. Lai also highlights the complicating factor of the Russia-Ukraine war, where Hungary must balance its status as an EU member and its growing relationship with Russia. Due to rising gas prices, China and Hungary have cooperated on alternative energy sources. The China-Hungary relationship will continue to develop under Orbán’s leadership, and the alliance will likely strengthen over time. 

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The eighth national class essay contest.

The Eighth National CLASS Essay Contest OFFICIAL RULES (Revised May 7, 2011)

1. The contestant must be a student currently enrolled in a Mandarin Chinese program during the current school year at an elementary school, a middle school or a high school that is fully accredited by the regional Accreditation institutions like Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), or is a member of the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS).

2. The instructor of the contestant must be a current member in good standing of the Chinese Language Association of Secondary-Elementary Schools (CLASS). The annual membership fee ($40.00 as of April 2011) must be paid by the instructor before students are eligibility to compete.

3. Contest essays must be written on the paper with writing chart provided and hand written legibly. Any illegible writing will result in deducted points.

4. Eligibility of Contest Entry: All entries must be student’s original independent work*. No contestant may use an essay by another contestant in previous years or resubmit an essay that was a previous submission. CLASS reserves** the right to disqualify contestants with identical essays or aboriginal essays.

5. It is the responsibility of the instructor to place each of his/her students in the most appropriate category commensurate with the student’s background and training. CLASS reserves the right to disqualify a contestant who provides false background and training information.

6. Each contestant must agree to compete in his/her assigned division and category as outlined below.

A. Categories: students’ language background information Category A: students who are non-native speakers of Chinese in a regular foreign language program Category B: Students who are heritage learners/ native-speakers of Chinese Category C: Students who have been in an immersion program regardless of first language background B. Divisions: students’ starting entry point to learn Chinese and the current level Division I Beginner K-5: Students who started learning Chinese as a beginner in elementary school Beginner 6-8: Students who started learning Chinese as a beginner in middle school Beginner 9-12 Students who started learning Chinese as a beginner in high school Division II Intermediate 6-8: Students who started learning Chinese at elementary school and continued at the middle school level Intermediate 9-12 Students who started learning Chinese at middle school and continued at the high school Level Division III Advanced 9-12 Students who started learning Chinese at elementary school and continued at the middle school through high school level Example of group coding: a student grouped in C-II-7 means this is a seventh grader who has been in an immersion program since elementary school.

7. The contestant may write on any appropriate topic commensurate with his/her level of training. Sample topics include: Learning Chinese, Family Life, Favorite Sports, a School Event, Travel to China/ Taiwan/ Hong Kong.

8. Submission: The instructor should send the students entries (one hard copy, electronic files if applicable) along with CLASS Essay Contest Entry and Pledge Form (the form can be downloaded at www.classk12.org ) no later than October 1, 2011 to: Baocai Paul Jia, Cupertino High School, 10100 Finch Ave., Cupertino, CA 95014 [email protected]

*Definition of “Original Independent Work”

Essay must be drafted and written by individual student author. No online translator is allowed for creating any part of the text. No parental or teacher assistance/editing is allowed. Proper citation is required if others’ words are quoted or employed.

**Please note: CLASS Student Essay Judging Committee reserves the right to reject any entry that is under the suspicion of plagiarism or tempered with more sophisticated authorship. If two judgers raise the suspicion based on their professional knowledge, a third authoritative figure such as CLASS president or a board member will be consulted to make the final decision. Teachers and administrators are expected to model and reinforce ethical behaviors.

Any questions regarding the CLASS 2011 Essay Contest should be directed to The CLASS Essay Contest Committee Chair, Baocai Paul Jia at

[email protected] . For forms related to this contest, please check the CLASS website .

Download documents : 1. The Eight National CLASS Essay Contest Official rules 2. CLASS Essay Contest Entry Form 3. Writing Chart_Chinese

Copyright © 2024 CLASSK12 All Rights Reserved.

ASDAN China Journalism Contest

2023 contest results, sponsored and hosted by quill and scroll, chinese students earn awards in 2022-23 asdan writing, photo and multimedia contest.

MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota (March 19, 2023) — In 2018, Quill and Scroll partnered with ASDAN China  to begin a journalism contest for students in that country. That first year (2018-19), students from China submitted more than 200 entries for that contest. The best of those entries were then put into the international Writing, Photo and Multimedia Contest.

In the 2022-23 contest just concluded, the number of ASDAN China entries clocked in at 190. Here are all the winners in the 2022 ASDAN China journalism contest sponsored by Quill and Scroll.

2023 Writing, Photo and Multimedia Contest Results

Asdan china students.

Note: International Contest results were released Feb. 23, 2023.

WRITING CATEGORIES: 

Category 1. Editorial Writing

First Place: Wang Yilin, Qingdao Academy Life is about embracing ourselves, not competing in an endless race “The combination of a more personal feeling example and factual pieces of information make this editorial a compelling read. Starting with a scenario is an attention grabbing start to the piece.”

Second Place: Lu Qingyang, The Affiliated International School of Shenzhen University Can Real-Name Registration Prevent Game-Addiction? “The examples and background information pulled into this story make it shine. The information supports the overall message of the piece. The organization of the piece is also strong, with a clear beginning, middle and end.”

Third Place: Li Xinran, Shanghai Pinghe Bilingual School Qingpu What’s real in reality TV “Starting this piece with a personal anecdote is a good way to pull in readers. The piece is also well supported with background information and relevant facts that help build the argument you are trying to make in this editorial.” 

Honorable Mention: Zhu Libei, BASIS International School Hangzhou Shackled？

Category 2. News Writing

First Place: Zhang Jiayi, Jiangsu Tianyi High School A new trend in China: young people lie flat to fight against involution “The use of quotes to support the narrative in this piece is strong. Additionally, focusing the story on one person is a great way to pull in readers and keep them invested in the piece.”

Second Place: Ouyang Zize , Beijing Haidian Foreign Language Experimental School The Russian army bombed 10 states of Ukraine in a row! Ukraine has vowed to retaliate with airstrikes! “This piece is to the point and factual, both markers of a good news piece. Information is clearly sourced and relevant to the news event.”

Category 3. Feature Writing

First Place: Shen Yujun , Jiangsu Tianyi High School Covid restrictions spur glamping in China “This is a well-written, in-depth look at glamping and camping. The sources and examples used add a lot to the narrative and are an effective way to explore the camping culture.”

Second Place: Wu Xinyan, Beijing Chaoyang Tongwen Foreign Language School A kid who cooks soup with a doll bear “This piece highlights an often forgotten issue facing many people, and does so in a clearly written and well supported way. The examples chosen support the story and the organization of the piece is clear.”

Third Place: Zhou Lingyi , Hangzhou Olive Tree International Academy, BFSU I heard that, you “This is a moving and unexpected piece. The dramatic narrative is certainly present and keeps readers engaged and guessing throughout the entirety of the piece.”

Category 4: Review Writing

First Place: Huang Keyan, United World College of Changshu China ‘Avatar 2’: is not the savior of the sluggish movie market “This review does a good job of giving readers a sense for the movie without spoiling it. The comparisons to the first ‘Avatar’ movie are also strong and help put it in context. The piece is clearly organized and easy to follow.”

Second Place: Li Xinran, Shanghai Pinghe Bilingual School Qingpu ‘Phineas and Ferb’: The Power of Children’s Creativity “Starting with a quote and shared experience of many Millennials and Gen Z was a strong way to start this review. The wording of this piece is strong and engaging — it may make readers want to rewatch the show as well!”

Third Place: Cao Xiaomeng, Beijing Haidian Foreign Language Shiyan School ‘A Fleeting Dream’：Yuzuru Hanyu’s Resplendent Time “Drawing on your personal experience is a great way to hook readers in on this piece. The description of your emotions while watching the program is also compelling — makes readers want to experience it. The piece is logically and clearly structured, making it an easy read.”

Honorable Mention: Li Suhang, Beijing 21st Century International School Home coming?

Category 5: In-Depth Reporting: Individual 

First Place: Yue Yuxi, United World College of Changshu China Transforming Cities and Burning Buildings: Rethinking the Relationship between Home and Urban Planning “The introduction is attention grabbing and makes readers want to keep reading — a helpful feature of an in-depth piece. The clear timeline explained in this piece is also very helpful in keeping readers engaged and not confusing them.”

Second Place: Wu Yizhen, United World College of Changshu China An analysis of social media communication of educational NGOs in China — case of Beyond the City  “Focusing on one NGO is a really effective way of narrowing the scope of this complicated topic. The background information included throughout the piece is well constructed, informational and adds a lot to the piece.”

Third Place: Fang Chenyu, Shanghai Pinghe School Analysis of Marketing Strategies of Korean Entertainment Companies in the North American Market “The background and development of K-Pop is an important section of this piece, and you constructed it well. The sources and literature included are also strong, making the piece clear and informative.”

Honorable Mention: Gu Yiwen, Suzhou Foreign Language School Rural Dynamic？

Category 6: In-Depth Reporting: Team

First Place: Taeyun Lee and Lin Yucian, No. 2 High School of East China Normal University Procrastination and how it affects high school students and our daily life “The sourcing on this piece is very strong and lends compelling points to the overall angle of the piece. The survey conducted for the piece is especially strong as it is information not found from external sources. The organization is clear and easy to follow.”

Category 7: Sports Feature

First Place: Yu Xiayi, RDFZ International Curriculum Center Cheerleading , a sport full of energy “The background of cheerleading is not something many people likely know, so it is a strong piece to include in writing. The personal element and touch included toward the end is also strong — it lends a human element to the piece which is very compelling.”

Category 8: Sports Game Event

First Place: Qiu Zilin, Beijing 101 Middle School Shiyou Campus Memphis grizzlies event report “This piece provides a to the point and clear summary of a sports event. The inclusion of a number of sports statistics is smart, paired with the descriptions of the player’s experiences is a strong combination that keeps readers engaged.”

Category 9: Profile Writing

First Place: Chong Kexin , Wyoming Seminary A fabulous skier regardless of nationality  “This is a well researched and well constructed profile. Little pieces of information are weaved through the narrative in a way that is easy to read and understand. It is also very effective at capturing the cultural significance of the subject.”

Second Place: Xu Xiyuan, Zhejiang Hangzhou High School The death of the killer “This profile offers a well researched and comprehensive look into the subject’s life. The inclusion of a quote about the subject is a nice touch. The organization of this piece is straightforward and easy to follow.”

Third Place: Zhao Zisheng, Beanstalk International Bilingual School Eminem “Short and to the point, this piece offers a glimpse into the subject’s life. Starting with his early life was a good choice and truly paints a picture for the readers.”

Honorable Mention: Wang Ziao, The Sub High School Affiliated to Xi’an Jiaotong University

Category 10: Column Writing

First Place: Zhu Libei, BASIS International School Hangzhou   One step away  “Focusing this piece on one specific story as an indication of a larger trend is a smart way to approach it. The piece is well constructed and easy to read. It is obviously well researched, but still reads well and has a clear point.”

Second Place: Chong Kexin, Wyoming Seminary Mary I “As an in-depth look into Mary I, this is a well written and researched piece. It explores many parts of her life in exceptional detail and is clear and easy to read.”

Category 11: Health, Science, Agricultural Writing 

First Place: Zheng Lu, Zhejiang Hangzhou High School Psychology of athletes “The psychology of athletes is often not discussed, making it a strong topic for this piece. The inclusion of various examples is also a compelling way to tell the story.”

PHOTOGRAPHY CATEGORIES: 

Category 12: Feature Photo

First Place: Liu Ruochong, Chongqing Nankai Secondary School A River Runs Through It – 1 “The photo is really well thought out and executed. I love how the river reflections split the photo in half with the fisherman right at the center of attention. The black and white really help to declutter any background noise.”

Second Place: Wu Yitong, Northeast Yucai Experimental School Fireworks in a Fairy Tale World “The photo is very busy and has a very good spread across the entire frame. The fireworks are a sharp contrast to the castle and the signage. I also enjoy how although it is visually busy, there are only four colors. The black background also helps to make the castle and fireworks stand out especially.”

Category 13: Sports Action Photo

First Place: Yao Zhengyang, San Domenico School The Ferocious Rejection “This image is beautifully composed and captured. The photographer successfully froze a high energy, contentious moment in the game. All of the elements fit well within the frame and the viewer has full insight into the emotion of the players and where this is occurring due to the sign in the background. The depth of field is also artfully chosen, managing to separate the students sitting in the background from the players on the court. There is a lot of visual clarity and distinction despite being a relatively busy composition.”

Second Place: Zhang Junzhe, Shanghai Pinghe School The Preparation “This photo is high quality and well composed. The expression on the subject’s face shows the viewer his emotion and focus while preparing. The frame is nearly symmetrical, with lines created by the overhead lights and the table cutting into the bottom right corner. It also has a clear vanishing point that centers the subject’s face, again leading the eye directly to that point.”

Third Place: Chen Ziyi, Hefei Thomas School Go Beyond “The photographer did a great job of freezing the motion in this image and capturing the facial expressions of the runners. The colors and lighting in this image, while environmental, are wonderful and contribute to the overall feeling of the photo. The subjects are also well positioned in the frame, which is particularly hard to do in sports photography.”

Honorable Mentions:

Lou Jiaqi, Huaer Zizhu Academy  The last throw and the last guard?

Chen Siqi, Beijing No.4 High School International Campus I am unstoppable?

Category 14: Sports Reaction Photo

First Place: Lou Jiaqi, Huaer Zizhu Academy A Team “The composition of this photo clearly documents the emotion and reactions of the spectators, each with individually engaging expressions. This image is a great example of telling a story in a creative way. The viewer can understand that this is a moment of celebration in the game. The photographer also includes plenty of contextual elements that tell the viewer which sport is being played, namely the basketball court and the player in the foreground.”

Second Place: Zhang Junzhe, Shanghai Pinghe School The Return of the King “This photographer makes strong choices in what to include in this image. The viewer gets a comprehensive view of what is happening with the runner in the foreground and spectators in the back. The depth of field allows the viewer to distinguish these different layers without fully losing the detail of the spectators’ reactions. The editing on this image is a little heavy for journalism, but otherwise, the photo seems to be well exposed.”

Third Place: Sun Geru, The High School Affiliated To Beijing Normal University Applauding “This image is beautifully exposed and has a very legible composition. The photographer successfully froze the motion of someone clapping in a very high quality, clear photo. The colors create a contrast that contributes to the storytelling of the image, letting the viewer know that this is a running track without cluttering the frame with details.”

Honorable Mentions: 

Luo Yushen, Shenzhen Middle School Finish Line

Luo Yushen, Shenzhen Middle School Pegasus

Category 15: Photo Illustration

First Place: Chen Siqi, Beijing No.4 High School International Campus Parallel World “This image is visually stunning. The composition and exposure are well formed and the photographer makes good use of symmetry and leading lines. The strong light cutting new angles across the frame creates a surrealist ‘architecture’ alongside what is truly there. The glimpses of red in the background and green in the water at the bottom of the image prevent the colors from being too monotonous.”

Second Place: Chen Wanyan, Beijing World Youth Academy Stages of Life “The way the light and color bounce around the image is beautiful. The photographer creates a visual narrative utilizing the leading lines of the steps and horizon line, the yellow sign guiding where to go next and the younger subjects seemingly rejecting that direction. The image might be slightly underexposed but is perfectly fine for the purposes of illustration.”

Third Place: Li Xiang, BASIS International School Hangzhou The Corner of History “This image is very well exposed and the composition feels intentional. The frame is balanced between the busyness of the architecture and the negative space of the sky, with small details keeping the photo from being too ‘perfect.’ The lines and gestures in the image are visually engaging and provide a sense of liveliness to an inanimate object.”

Peng Jingyi, Beijing National Day School  Water-Splashing, Youth is Blooming

Yuan Mingshuo, Northeast Yucai Experimental School  Quiet cafe 

Ma Zeya, Dehong Beijing International Chinese School  Bondage

Category 16: Photo Slideshow

First Place: Na Sen, Capital Normal University High School Days Gone “Keeping all of these photos in black and white makes the slideshow feel cohesive and well planned out. Additionally, the photos themselves do a good job highlighting every day sights in a way that pushes the viewer to think deeper.”

Second Place: Sun Rui, The Stony Brook School Next Moment, Ball Game “These are all excellent sports photos. They are well exposed, crisp and tell the story of the game very effectively. The editing on them also is fitting as it contributes to the overall feel of watching a game.”

Third Place: Chi Hanyu, Renmin University “Monet Garden” in Beijing “The concept behind this slideshow is very strong — taking a well known Monet painting and exploring the subject matter is a compelling angle. The photos themselves are also strong. They are well focused, well exposed and overall very pleasing to look at.”

Ren Xingyue and Yang Ruohan, Ulink College of Suzhou Industrial Park Walk

Gao Yuting, The Affiliated International School of Shenzhen University Blockade – Fault Art

Category 17: Profile Portrait

First Place: Tang Yi, Beijing 21st Century International School Cyber “The colors and overall composition of this photo are stunning. It is very cohesive while also incorporating a number of different pieces. It is well exposed and captures a feeling very effectively.”

Second Place: Rong Kairen, Shanghai Pinghe School Pureness “This photo captures the feeling of its subject very effectively. Composition wise it is strong and the choice to present it in black and white is good. The subject is positioned in a great spot as it leaves viewers wondering what they are smiling at.”

Third Place: Lu Han, Shanghai American School Life “It is safe to say this is an adorable shot. It is compositionally very strong and simultaneously shares a story. The image leaves viewers wondering more about the child, but in a way that is evocative, not annoying. The image is also well exposed.”

Yu Yuer, Chongqing Depu Foreign Language School Inside the Window

Wang Yiru, Hefei Thomas School The Smile

Category 18: News Feature

First Place: Liu Ruochong, Chongqing Nankai Secondary School A River Runs Through It 1 “The composition and exposure in this photo are great. There is a sense of vertical and horizontal symmetry while maintaining a sense of direction and a clear subject. While there is some surrealism in what is creating the shadow that splits the image, it is not distracting, and also shows some balance in an almost domestic telling of how people interact with water.”

Second Place: Liu Ruochong, Chongqing Nankai Secondary School A River Runs Through It 2 “This image is also well composed and almost has a ‘vintage’ feel to it. The haze of the photo distinguishes the diver from the landscape and provides a beautiful, contextual background to the image. The diver’s limbs and the gesture of their body line up with the buildings behind them and match the horizon line overall. The figures at the bottom of the frame are a nice detail, especially when the viewer gets a closer look and sees that they are watching the diver.”

Third Place: Lin Yuhuai, Shanghai Pinghe School A Nostalgic but Inevitable Demise?  “The subject’s facial expression is truly what makes this photo great. By the way she is framed and leaning forward, the viewer can infer that she is pulling along the bags and boxes behind her and that they have notable weight. It could have benefited from a slightly higher shutter speed and adjusting the white balance to take away the orange cast from the image.”

Xin Yuelai, Shenzhen Middle School The Divide: The Impact of COVID-19 on Hong Kong and Shenzhen?

Yang Yunda, Beijing SMIC Long live the people or The sweet era?

Design Categories:

Category 19: Editorial Cartoon

First Place: Zhang Yihan, The Affiliated High School of Peking University What Holds Women Back “The use of four different bondages on the woman in the middle really ties together all the elements in this piece. The message is very clear and well executed through the use of color and the placement of imagery.”

Second Place: Wang Zitong , King’s Edgehill School Communication “This is a great example of a simple but effective cartoon. The viewer can understand the message within seconds after looking at this piece. The limited color palette and exclusion of facial details allows the viewer to focus on the connective text bubble. The glow from the phone screens is also a subtle but nice touch that emphasizes where the people’s focus is.” 

Third Place: Sun Yiming, The High School Affiliated to Beijing Normal University Justice “The use of leading lines in the background of this piece is very effective at drawing the viewer toward the person in the middle. The use of smoke moving toward the person also helps with this. Additionally, the exclusion of faces and the use of blues with a touch of red in the background allows the message to shine through clearer.”

Honorable Mention: 

Zhao Yiwen, Capital Normal University High School COVID-19

Category 20: Informational Graphic 

First Place: Yan Xinran, Suzhou Experimental High School Visual Design of Intangible Cultural Heritage : Suzhou Song Brocade Information “This is very detailed and well laid out. The visuals are properly placed among the text so that the viewer knows where to read next. The use of dissecting images to show as examples is very effective.”

Second Place: Yu Yuer, Chongqing Depu Foreign Language School The 7th Sports Meeting “The use of the abstract 3-D 7 is a unique idea, paired with the athletes interacting with the number. The use of perspective creates a nice space that allows the viewer to focus on the colorful aspects and become more excited and curious about the event.”

Third Place: Jiang Chuan, Nanjing Jinling High School Hexi Campus The Future Vehicle “This is a very well thought out and detailed graphic. The use of imagery and text reads very clean and can easily inform the viewer on the topic. The color palette and spacing is also very consistent.”

Honorable Mention:

Ouyang Zize, Beijing Haidian Foreign Language Experimental School Game club recruitment poster

Category 21: News Magazine Front Page

First Place: Li Selina Yiqi, BASIS International School Hangzhou School English Literature Magazine Cover Design “The colors in this piece are really fun and appealing. The bubbly letters and thicker strokes with overlapping textures and figures creates a unique front and back cover that makes the viewer want to read more. The use of quotes on the covers also helps to emphasize the theme.”

Second Place: Han Qingran, RDFZ Xishan School A Sport that Always Looks Up “The use of perspective in this cover is really nice, as it draws the eye straight towards the main athlete. Using such a powerful stance as the main focus creates a sense of excitement in the viewer. The leading lines from the volleyball net also help lead the eyes towards the edge of the cover, as if welcoming viewers to open the magazine.”

Third Place:  Li Selina Yiqi, BASIS International School Hangzhou The Demise of Nature “The use of distortion on the images is nicely done without it causing the images to look too different. The shape that borders the edited areas of the images also helps create a cohesive look.”

Category 22: Newspaper Front Page Design

First Place: Liang YiFan, Northeast Yucai Experimental School Nezha  “There is a nice color palette that is being used throughout this piece throughout the visuals and text. The layout allows for the viewer to be drawn in by the large image and then want to know what the articles are about. Overall, the hierarchy is well thought out.”

Category 23: Feature Page Design

First Place: Shao Jiaqi, Springboard International Bilingual School Ecological Balance System “The use of lines in this piece is really well done. By creating vertical movement with the black lines, mountains, and smoke as well as horizontal lines in the background, a nice balance is found visually. The characters being placed vertically also helps establish a cohesiveness.”

Second Place: Li Selina Yiqi, BASIS International School Hangzhou The PUMI “This design has nice experimentation with collage and the overlap of images. The colors are cohesive and the layout is unique. Putting the images in a diagonal across the page and framing them with images of the roofs of buildings creates a nice line for the eye to follow, leading into the title.”

Third Place: Chen Weizhe, Chongqing Depu Foreign Language School Stop Gun Violence “The angle of the text and illustration in this design is powerful, as it gives the sense of movement as well as danger, given the weapon. Using only gray tones and red also creates a better sense of urgency and importance.”

Chen Weizhe, Chongqing Depu Foreign Language School Fast Food is also Important

Multimedia Categories: 

Category 24: Video News or Feature

First Place: Cao Junyang, Beijing City International School The Guardian “This stellar entry has a lot of great footage and a nice mix of interviews and narration in order to tell the story. It was a creative and educational choice for a topic as well, I liked the idea that she was a guardian of her craft.”

Second Place: Chen Chufei, The Affiliated International School of Shenzhen University Last sunset of 17 “This creative concept piece would fit right in with an indie coming of age movie. Between the great cinematography and music choice viewers are engaged the entire time. The setting was beautiful as well.”

Third Place: Chen Chufei, The Affiliated International School of Shenzhen University Anti-involution Team “This comedic video about mathematics and gangsters has great shot design and cinematography. The costumes also had a lot of great detail, as did the lighting. The storyline could have been fleshed out a little more with more text, but overall very strong.”

Wang Jiayao and Wang Wenqi, Beijing Haidian Foreign Language Shiyan School Great Beijing 

Category 25: Documentary

First Place: Niu Huijun, United World College of Changshu China The inspiration from the brush maker “This documentary is not only well made and aesthetically pleasing, but also extremely thought provoking and emotional. The choice to turn a ‘failed’ documentary into a story of resilience and forgiveness is a lesson that everyone can learn. The ocean shots were fantastic and the background music was a great compliment to the story. The imagery used and the humility demonstrated made for a winning entry.”

Second Place: Shen Xingyi , The Bishop Strachan School and Veronica Chen, Palos Verdes Peninsula High School The meanings of our lives  “This creative entry told three people’s stories, all under the umbrella of determining life’s purpose. There were some interesting visual elements such as pop up text messages and a flowchart. The background music was fun as well, though could have been toned down at some more serious parts. The journalist demonstrates excellent interview skills though the interviews could have been cut down for time.”

Third Place: Ji Jiatong, Tian Yihan, Chen Geyang, Qingdao Baishan AnnieWright School , and Aiden, Qingdao Amerasia International School A village bordering on the coast “The story of local village fishermen grappling with climate change and technological changes is an important one to tell. The camera work was at times shaky and too fast for the viewers, but the shots for the interviews were good. Unfortunately, there were no English captions for some of the interviews, but I am sure the content was interesting. I liked the photo at the end, but I think it could have been used for fewer seconds.”

Category 26: Multimedia Feature Package

First Place: Zhang Junxi, Victor Zhuang, Sera Chen, Tony Shao and Eddy Shen, BASIS International School Shenzhen Maisu’s Package “Maisu’s Package consists of four photos, two of a collaborative team and two of the final poster design. The interested font and detailed illustrations, along with the clever box like patterns in the corner, engage the viewer.”

Quill and Scroll 2829 University Ave. SE, Suite 720 Minneapolis, MN 55414 Email: [email protected] (612) 200-9295

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United States Institute of Peace

National high school essay contest.

USIP partners with the American Foreign Service Association (AFSA) on the annual National High School Essay Contest. The contest each year engages high school students in learning and writing about issues of peace and conflict, encouraging appreciation for diplomacy’s role in building partnerships that can advance peacebuilding and protect national security. 

The winner of the contest receives a $2,500 cash prize, an all-expense paid trip to Washington, D.C. to meet U.S. Department of State and USIP leadership, and a full-tuition paid voyage with Semester at Sea upon the student’s enrollment at an accredited university. The runner-up receives a $1,250 cash prize and a full scholarship to participate in the International Diplomacy Program of the National Student Leadership Conference. 

2023 National High School Essay Contest

The American Foreign Service Association’s national high school essay contest completed its twenty-third year with over 400 submissions from 44 states. Three randomized rounds of judging produced this year’s winner, Justin Ahn, a junior from Deerfield Academy in Deerfield, Massachusetts. In his essay, “Mending Bridges: U.S.-Vietnam Reconciliation from 1995 to Today,” Ahn focuses on the successful reconciliation efforts by the Foreign Service in transforming U.S.-Vietnam relations from post-war tension to close economic and strategic partnership.

Ahn will travel to Washington, D.C. to meet with a member of the Department of State’s leadership and receive a full tuition scholarship to an educational voyage with Semester at Sea.

Niccolo Duina was this year’s runner-up. He is currently a junior at Pulaski Academy in Little Rock, Arkansas. Duina will be attending the international diplomacy program of the National Student Leadership Conference this summer.

There were eight honorable mentions:

• Santiago Castro-Luna – Chevy Chase, Maryland
• Dante Chittenden – Grimes, Iowa 
• Merle Hezel – Denver, Colorado
• Adarsh Khullar – Villa Hills, Kentucky
• Nicholas Nall – Little Rock, Arkansas
• Ashwin Telang – West Windsor, New Jersey
• Himani Yarlagadda – Northville, Michigan 
• Sophia Zhang – San Jose, California

Congratulations! We thank all students and teachers who took the time to research and become globally engaged citizens who care about diplomacy, development and peacebuilding.

2023 National High School Essay Contest Topic

In 2024, the U.S. Foreign Service will celebrate its 100th birthday. The Foreign Service is an important element of the American approach to peacebuilding around the world. Over the last century, U.S. diplomats have been involved in some of the most significant events in history — making decisions on war and peace, responding to natural disasters and pandemics, facilitating major treaties, and more.

As AFSA looks back on their century-long history, we invite you to do the same. This year, students are asked to explore a topic that touches upon this important history and sheds light on how vital it is for America to have a robust professional corps focused on diplomacy, development and peace in the national interest.

In your essay, you will select a country or region in which the U.S. Foreign Service has been involved in at any point since 1924 and describe — in 1,500 words or less — how the Foreign Service was successful or unsuccessful in advancing American foreign policy goals, including promoting peace, in this country/region and propose ways in which it might continue to improve those goals in the coming years.

Contest deadline: April 3, 2023

Download the study guide for the 2023 National High School Essay Contest. This study guide provides students with a basic introduction to the topic and some additional context that can assist them in answering the question. It includes the essay question, prizes and rules for the contest; an introduction to diplomacy and peacebuilding; key terms; topics and areas students might explore; and a list of other useful resources.

Learn more about the contest rules and how to submit your essay on the American Foreign Service Association’s contest webpage .

2022 National High School Essay Contest

Katherine Lam, a freshman from University High School in Tucson, Arizona, is the 2022 National High School Essay Contest winner. In her essay, “Competition and Coaction in Ethiopia: U.S. and Chinese Partnerships for International Stabilization,” Lam focuses on how the Foreign Service has partnered with other U.S. government agencies, nongovernmental organizations and — most notably — China to promote peace and development in Ethiopia. Lam will travel to Washington, D.C., to meet with a member of the U.S. Department of State’s leadership and gain full tuition for an educational voyage with Semester at Sea.

Olivia Paulsen was this year’s runner-up. She is a currently a junior receiving a home-schooled education in Concord, Massachusetts. Paulsen will be attending the international diplomacy program of the National Student Leadership Conference this summer.

The 2022 honorable mentions were: Josh Diaz (Little Rock, AR); Grace Hartman (Bethlehem, PA); Elena Higuchi (Irvine, CA); Ovea Kaushik (Oklahoma City, OK); Evan Lindemann (Palm Desert, CA); Percival Liu (Tokyo, Japan); Alexander Richter (San Jose, CA); and Gavin Sun (Woodbury, MN).

USIP congratulates all the winners of the 2022 National High School Essay Contest.

Partnerships for Peace in a Multipolar Era

The current multipolar era poses challenges for U.S. foreign policy but also provides new opportunities for partnership across world powers—including emerging great powers like China and Russia—to build peace in conflict-affected countries. Describe a current situation where American diplomats and peacebuilders are working with other world powers, as well as local and/or regional actors, in a conflict-affected country to champion democracy, promote human rights, and/or resolve violent conflict.    A successful essay will lay out the strategies and tactics U.S. Foreign Service Officers and American peacebuilders are employing to build successful partnerships with other world and regional powers and with local actors in the chosen current situation.  The essay will also describe specific ways that these partnerships are helping to promote stability and build peace.

Contest deadline: April 4, 2022

Download the study guide for the 2022 National High School Essay Contest. This study guide provides students with a basic introduction to the topic and some additional context that can assist them in answering the question. It includes the essay question, prizes, and rules for the contest; an introduction to diplomacy and peacebuilding; key terms; topics and areas students might explore; and a list of other useful resources.

Learn more about the contest rules and how to submit your essay on the American Foreign Service Association’s contest webpage.  

2021 National High School Essay Contest

Mariam Parray, a sophomore from Pulaski Academy in Little Rock, Arkansas, is the 2021 National High School Essay Contest winner. In her essay, “Diplomats and Peacebuilders in Tunisia: Paving the Path to Democracy,” Ms. Parray focuses on how the Foreign Service partnered with other U.S. government agencies and NGOs to effect a peaceful democratic transition in Tunisia. She emphasizes the importance of multifaceted approaches as well as the importance of bringing marginalized groups into the fold. Mariam will travel to Washington to meet with a member of the Department of State’s leadership and will also gain a full tuition to an educational voyage with Semester at Sea. Harrison McCarty was this year’s runner-up. Coincidentally, he is also a sophomore from Pulaski Academy in Little Rock, Arkansas. Harrison will be attending the international diplomacy program of the National Student Leadership Conference this summer. The 2021 honorable mentions were: Louisa Eaton (Wellesley, MA); Samuel Goldston (Brooklyn, NY); Lucy King (Bainbridge Island, WA); Haan Jun Lee (Jakarta, Indonesia); Khaled Maalouf (Beirut, Lebanon); Madeleine Shaw (Bloomington, IN); Allison Srp (Austin, MN); and Daniel Zhang (Cortland, NY).

USIP congratulates all the winners of the 2021 National High School Essay Contest. 

Diplomats and Peacebuilders: Powerful Partners

What characteristics lead to a successful effort by diplomats and peacebuilders to mediate or prevent violent conflict? The United States Foreign Service—often referred to as America’s first line of defense—works to prevent conflict from breaking out abroad and threats from coming to our shores. Peacebuilders work on the ground to create the conditions for peace and resolve conflicts where they are most needed. 

Successful essays will identify, in no more than 1,250 words, a situation where diplomats worked on a peacebuilding initiative with partners from the country/region in question, nongovernmental organizations, and other parts of the U.S. government, and then go on to analyze what characteristics and approaches made the enterprise a success.  

Contest deadline: April 5, 2021

Download the study guide for the 2021 National High School Essay Contest. This study guide provides students with a basic introduction to the topic and some additional context that can assist them in answering the question. It includes key terms in conflict management and peacebuilding and examples of peacebuilding initiatives, with reflection questions for independent learners to dig more deeply or for teachers to encourage class reflection and discussion. We hope this study guide will be a useful resource for educators and students participating in this contest, and for educators who want their students to learn more about this year’s contest topic.

2020 National High School Essay Contest

Jonas Lorincz, a junior from Marriotts Ridge High School in Marriottsville, MD, is the 2020 National High School Essay Contest winner. In his essay, “Verification, Mediation, and Peacebuilding: The Many Roles of the U.S. Foreign Service in Kosovo,” Mr. Lorincz focused on the importance of interagency cooperation in mediating the crisis in Kosovo – primarily looking into how diplomats and other civilian agencies engaged in peacebuilding throughout the conflict.

Claire Burke was this year’s runner-up. She is a junior at Mill Valley High School in Shawnee, KS. 

The 2020 honorable mentions were: Grace Cifuentes (Concord, CA), Grace Lannigan (Easton, CT), Seryung Park (Tenafly, NJ), Vynateya Purimetla (Troy, MI), David Richman (Norfolk, VA), Madeleine Shaw (Bloomington, IN), Sara Smith (Fargo, ND), and Jack Viscuso (Northport, NY).  USIP congratulates all the winners of the 2020 National High School Essay Contest. 

2020 National High School Essay Contest Topic

Why Diplomacy and Peacebuilding Matter

How do members of the Foreign Service work with other civilian parts of the U.S. Government to promote peace, national security and economic prosperity?

Qualified essays focused on a specific challenge to U.S. peace and prosperity and included one example of the work of the Foreign Service and one or more examples of collaboration between America’s diplomats and other civilian (i.e. non-military) U.S. Government agencies or organizations.

2019 National High School Essay Contest

In its 21st year, the American Foreign Service Association (AFSA)’s National High School Essay Contest encouraged students to think about how and why the United States engages globally to build peace, and about the role that the Foreign Service plays in advancing U.S. national security and economic prosperity.

For the second year in a row, the National High School Essay Contest focused on an important aspect of operating in countries affected by or vulnerable to violent conflict: effective coordination of the many different foreign policy tools the United States has at its disposal. Whether you were addressing the prompt for a second year or new to the contest, the contest will have challenged you to expand your understanding of the role of the Foreign Service and other actors in foreign policy, identify case studies, and provide a sophisticated analysis in a concise manner.

The essay prompt and a helpful study guide are included below; you can find out more information about the rules and how to submit by checking out AFSA’s essay contest page .

2019 Essay Question

The United States has many tools to advance and defend its foreign policy and national security interests around the world—from diplomatic approaches pursued by members of the Foreign Service, to the range of options available to the U.S. military. In countries affected by or vulnerable to violent conflict, peacebuilding tools are important additions to the national security toolkit.

In such complex environments, cooperation across agencies and approaches is challenging, but it can also blend knowledge and skills in ways that strengthen the overall effort to establish a lasting peace. On the other hand, lack of coordination can lead to duplication of effort, inefficient use of limited resources and unintended consequences.

In a 1,000-1,250-word essay, identify two cases—one you deem successful and one you deem unsuccessful—where the U.S. pursued an integrated approach to build peace in a conflict-affected country. Analyze and compare these two cases, addressing the following questions:

• What relative strengths did members of the Foreign Service and military actors bring to the table? What peacebuilding tools were employed? Ultimately, what worked or did not work in each case?
• How was each situation relevant to U.S. national security interests?
• What lessons may be drawn from these experiences for the pursuit of U.S. foreign policy more broadly?

Download the study guide for the 2019 AFSA National High School Essay Contest

2018 National High School Essay Contest

Jennifer John from Redwood City, CA is the 2018 National High School Essay Contest winner, surpassing close to 1,000 other submissions. Her essay examined to what extent U.S. interagency efforts in Iraq and Bosnia were successful in building peace. Aislinn Niimi from Matthews, NC was the runner up.

The 2018 honorable mentions were: Alex, DiCenso (North Kingstown, RI),Alexandra Soo (Franklin, MI), Caroline Bellamy (Little Rock AR), Colin LeFerve (Indianapolis, IN), Elizabeth Kam (Burlingham, CA), Emma Singh (Tenafly NJ), Emma Chambers (Little Rock AR),  Francesca Ciampa (Brooksville, ME), Greta Bunce (Franktown, VA), Isaac Che (Mount Vernon OH), Isabel Davis (Elk River MN), Katrina Espinoza (Watsonvile, CA), Molly Ehrig (Bethlehem, PA), Payton McGoldrick (Bristow, VA), Rachel Russell (Cabin John, MD), Sarah Chapman (Tucson, AZ), Shalia Lothe (Glen Allen VA), Sohun Modha (San Jose CA), Suhan Kacholia (Chandler, AZ), Supriya Sharma (Brewster, NY), Sydney Adams (Fort Wayne, IN), Tatum Smith (Little Rock AR), and William Milne (Fort Wayne, IN).  

2017 National High School Essay Contest

Nicholas Deparle, winner of the 2017 AFSA National High School Essay Contest, comes from Sidwell Friends School in Washington DC. A rising senior at the time, Mr. Deparle covers the Internally Displaced Persons crisis in Iraq and potential ideas to help resolve the issue.  Read his winning essay here . Mr. Manuel Feigl, a graduate of Brashier Middle College Charter High School in Simpsonville, SC took second place.

This year there were twenty honorable mentions: Mohammed Abuelem ( Little Rock, Ark.), Lucas Aguayo-Garber (Worcester, Mass.), Rahul Ajmera (East Williston, N.Y.), Taylor Gregory (Lolo, Mont.), Rachel Hildebrand (Sunnyvale, Calif.), Ryan Hulbert (Midland Park, N.J.), India Kirssin (Mason, Ohio), Vaibhav Mangipudy (Plainsboro, N.J.), William Marsh (Pittsburgh, Penn.), Zahra Nasser (Chicago, Ill.), Elizabeth Nemec (Milford, N.J.), David Oks (Ardsley, N.Y.), Max Pumilia (Greenwood Village, Colo.), Nikhil Ramaswamy (Plano, Texas), Aditya Sivakumar (Beaverton, Ore.), Donovan Stuard (Bethlehem, Penn.), Rachel Tanczos (Danielsville, Penn.), Isabel Ting (San Ramon, Calif.), Kimberley Tran (Clayton, Mo.), and Chenwei Wang (Walnut, Calif.).

2017 Essay Contest Topic

According to the United Nations, 65 million people worldwide have left their homes to seek safety elsewhere due to violence, conflict, persecution, or human rights violations. The majority of these people are refugees or internally displaced persons (IDPs).

Imagine you are a member of the U.S. Foreign Service —– a diplomat working to promote peace, support prosperity, and protect American citizens while advancing the interests of the United States abroad – and are now assigned to the U.S. embassy in one of these four countries.

• Turkey (Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs)
• Kenya (Bureau of African Affairs)
• Afghanistan (Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs)
• Iraq (Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs)

Your task is to provide recommendations to address the refugee/IDP crisis facing the country in which you are now posted. Using the resources available to you as a member of the Foreign Service, write a memo to your Ambassador outlining how the United States might help address the current unprecedented levels of displacement. You may choose to address issues related to the causes of refugee crisis, or to focus on the humanitarian crisis in your host country.

A qualifying memo will be 1,000-1,250 words and will answer the following questions:

• How does the crisis challenge U.S. interests in the country you are posted and more broadly?
• Specifically outline the steps you propose the U.S. should take to tackle the roots or the consequences of the crisis, and explain how it would help solve the issue or issues you are examining. How will your efforts help build peace or enhance stability?
• How do you propose, from your embassy/post of assignment, to foster U.S. government interagency cooperation and cooperation with the host-country government to address these issues?  Among U.S. government agencies, consider U.S. Agency for International Development, the Foreign Commercial Service and the U.S. Institute of Peace.

Memo Template

TO: Ambassador ______________________

FROM: Only use your first name here

RE: Think of this as your title, make sure to include the country you are writing about

Here you want to lay out the problem, define criteria by which you will be deciding the best steps the U.S. could take, and include a short sentence or two on your final recommendation. Embassy leadership is very busy and reads many memos a day —– they should be able to get the general ““gist”” of your ideas by reading this section.

Background:

This section should provide any background information about the crisis or conflict relevant to your proposed policy. Here, you should mention why the issue is important to U.S. interests, especially peace and security.

Proposed Steps:

This is where you outline your proposed policy. Be specific in describing how the U.S. might address this issue and how these steps can contribute to peace and security. Include which organizations you propose partnering with and why.

Recommendation:

This is where you write your final recommendations for embassy leadership. Think of this as a closing paragraph.

Companion Guide for the 2017 National High School Essay Contest

It is no easy task to jump into the role of a diplomat, especially when confronted by such an urgent crisis. USIP, in consultation with AFSA, developed a guide to provide a basic introduction to the topic and some additional context that can assist you in answering the question, while still challenging you to develop your own unique response. As such, this guide should be used as a starting point to your own research and as you ultimately prepare a compelling memo outlining recommendations the U.S. government should follow to respond to the refugee and IDP crisis.

In the guide you will find: insights into the role of the Foreign Service; country, organization, and key-term briefs to provide a foundational understanding; and a list of other useful resources. Download the Companion Guide for the 2017 National High School Essay Contest (.pdf).

2016 National High School Essay Contest

USIP first partnered with AFSA for the 2016 contest and was pleased to welcome winner Dylan Borne to Washington in August. His paper describes his role as an economic officer in the U.S. Agency for International Development’s Bureau for Democracy, Conflict and Humanitarian Assistance. He writes about promoting education for girls in Afghanistan through on-line courses and dispersal of laptops. Read his winning essay (.pdf).

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How to watch (and stream) the Eurovision Song Contest final

Scores of musicians, hundreds of journalists and thousands of music fans are gathering in the Swedish city of Malmo, where the Eurovision Song Contest is building towards Saturday’s exuberant, glitter-drenched final. (AP Video: Kwiyeon Ha)

Bambie Thug of Ireland performs the song Doomsday Blue during the dress rehearsal for the final at the Eurovision Song Contest in Malmo, Sweden, Friday, May 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

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Angelina Mango of Italy sings the song Imagine from John Lennon in the media center after the dress rehearsal for the final at the Eurovision Song Contest in Malmo, Sweden, Friday, May 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Eden Golan of Israel performs the song Hurricane during the dress rehearsal for the final at the Eurovision Song Contest in Malmo, Sweden, Friday, May 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Nutsa Buzaladze of Georgia performs the song Firefighter during the second semi-final at the Eurovision Song Contest in Malmo, Sweden, Thursday, May 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Windows95man of Finland performs the song No Rules! during the dress rehearsal for the first semifinal at the Eurovision Song Contest in Malmo, Sweden, Monday, May 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

MALMO, Sweden (AP) — Get out the glitter ball and put on your dancing shoes: It’s time to find out who will be crowned the 68th Eurovision Song Contest champion.

What to know about this year’s Eurovision Song Contest:

• Acts from more than two dozen countries will take the stage in Malmo, Sweden, on Saturday. How to watch (and stream) the final .
• Dutch broadcaster furious, fans bemused after Netherlands’ Joost Klein is booted from Eurovision .
• Eurovision explained, from ABBA to Zorra, as the Israel-Hamas war overshadows the song contest .

Acts from more than two dozen countries will take the stage in Malmo, Sweden , on Saturday to compete for the continent’s pop music crown. Millions of people across Europe and beyond will be watching and voting for their favorites.

Here’s how to join them.

WHAT TIME DOES EUROVISION START?

In Europe, the final round begins at 9 p.m. Central European Summer Time. In Britain, it airs at 8 p.m.

In the United States and Canada, the finale begins airing at 3 p.m. EDT.

HOW CAN I WATCH EUROVISION?

The competition will be aired by national broadcasters in participating nations — the Eurovision website includes a list of broadcasters on its website. In some territories, it’ll be watchable on Eurovision’s YouTube channel .

In the U.S., Eurovision will stream live on Peacock.

HOW CAN I VOTE IN EUROVISION?

Voting is open for 24 hours before the final starts for viewers in the U.S. and other nonparticipating countries, who can vote online or using the Eurovision app. Viewers in participating countries can vote during the competition by website app, phone or text message, but can’t vote for their own nation’s entry.

Countries are awarded points based on both viewers’ votes and rankings from juries of music industry professionals. These are combined into a total score — the country with the highest score wins.

EUROVISION IS NEW TO ME. WHAT DO I NEED TO KNOW?

Eurovision is an international pop music competition in which acts from countries across Europe, and a few beyond it, vie live on television to be crowned champion.

Launched in 1956 to foster unity after World War II and test new live-broadcast technology, Eurovision has become a campy, feel-good celebration of pop music with an audience of hundreds of millions around the world. It has grown from seven countries to almost 40, including non-European nations such as Israel and Australia.

It’s known for songs that range from anthemic to extremely silly, often paired with elaborate costumes and spectacular staging.

It’s also been the launching pad for many mainstream artists’ careers, including ABBA, Canadian chanteuse Celine Dion (who competed for Switzerland in 1988) and the Italian rock band Måneskin in 2021. Last year’s winner, Swedish diva Loreen, is one of only two people who have won the contest twice.

Eurovision winners are notoriously hard to predict. This year’s favorites include Nemo from Switzerland and Croatian singer Baby Lasagna.

Israeli singer Eden Golan has also surged in betting odds in recent days. Israel’s participation has attracted large protests in Malmo by Palestinians and their supporters over a week of Eurovision events.